Friday, May 5, 2017

Spotlight: The Boss by Melissa Schroeder

Sick of the spy game, former CIA operative Vic Walker takes time off from his security firm to figure out just what he wants out of life. But peace and quiet isn’t in the cards with a former business partner and ex-lover like MacKenzie Donovan.

Mac doesn’t like asking for help from anyone, but this latest case has her in a little over her head. She crashes back into Vic’s life with the CIA, the Russian Mob, and the FBI, on her tail after a job goes south.

But even as old feelings rise to the surface while they’re busy dodging bullets, the authorities, and mobsters, they’ll need to get out alive before they can have a second chance at love.

He opened the door.

At first, he didn’t see her. He had been prepared for her to be standing on the other side of the door. Maybe that was part of their problem. He always expected her to be right there waiting for him, when she wasn’t. Instead, she was sitting on the bed, leaning back against the wall, one leg drawn up with her arm wrapped around it. Her eyes were closed, so he felt comfortable just staring for a few moments. She was such a solitary soul. He had never known another person who seemed so alone in the world, and maybe that is why he was drawn to her. Part of it was her personality. He liked the fact she would kick a man in the teeth if he didn’t respect her. But there were times like this, where he saw the softer side of MacKenzie that most people would never see. Right now, he could see it. She was tired, no doubt about that. Still, in this moment, she was probably formulating a response to the information she had obtained. It was another trait that drew him. She was just so damned hardheaded she would never give up.

“Are you going to stand there and stare at me all night?”

He smiled. “Maybe.”

Then, she opened her eyes. She had been breathtaking tonight. The dress, the makeup, the fuck-me heels. They all did a number on him. But here in the soft light, with no makeup, it was just her. Just MacKenzie.

Her British accent deepened over the word, drawing it out. That did it. He couldn’t resist her anymore. He took four long steps and reached the bed. She sensed him approaching and opened her eyes again.

Before she could respond to him, he leaned down and grabbed her, dragged her up to him, and smashed his mouth down on hers. He let everything he had been feeling for months out in that kiss. His anger, his loneliness, and his love. He might not say it out loud, but he had known the moment she had crashed back into his life that there would be no turning away from her now. The only explanation was that he loved her.

From an early age, USA Today Bestselling author Melissa Schroeder loved to read. First, it was the books her mother read to her including her two favorites, Winnie the Pooh and the Beatrix Potter books. She cut her preteen teeth on Trixie Belden and read and reviewed To Kill a Mockingbird in middle school. It wasn’t until she was in college that she tried to write her first stories, which were full of angst and pain, and really not that fun to read or write. After trying several different genres, she found romance in a Linda Howard book.

Since her first published book , Mel has had over 60 short stories, novellas, and novels published. She has written in genres ranging from historical to contemporary to futuristic and has worked with 8 publishers although she handles most of her publishing herself. She is best known for her Harmless and Santini series.

After years of following her military husband around the country and world, Mel happily lives with her family in horse and wine country in Northern Virginia.